“…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy….And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”

Hebrews 10:14, 18 (NIV)

If you don’t have, or haven’t had, the pleasure of driving down the road toward a far away destination to the pleasant ponderings of content children asking, “Are we there yet?”, chances are you remember posing the questions to your own parents in a similar fashion.  Just in case you don’t have the spiritual gift of interpreting sarcasm, the scene nor the experience is pleasant!  In fact, frustration rules the day on both sides of this question as children wiggle under the pressure of impatience and parents grind their teeth in the agony of irritation.  However, the pain is generally endured without incident because we either know or learn that it is all just part of the journey.

The author of this letter to the Hebrews seems to have quite a sense of humor.  He says, “…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”  In other words, he points out that we are justified, or declared righteous and fit for heaven, by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  He speaks of the efficacy of Jesus’ death and of security for the one to whom it is applied.  On the other hand, he points out that we are being conformed, or changes are ongoing, to the image and likeness of Christ.  It’s like saying we are ready for life in the physical presence of God, but not quite yet.  Arrrrgggghhhh!

The situation that this condition sets up is easily comprehended, if not experienced all too often.  The frustration played out in the family car as described earlier becomes frustration on steroids as we journey together in the community of faith.  As I have contemplated and pondered for most of my life as a pastor, “What holds us together?”

The new covenant is a relationship with God built on unconditional love and forgiveness.  And because God dwells within us and we experience the forgiveness that flows from the blood of Jesus on our behalf, we are fully equipped and expected to forgive one another.  While we continue to bounce around and off each other as we journey together with Jesus, there is nothing that remains except to extend the grace and forgiveness to one another that we ourselves have received.

I know what you are thinking.  How come I am the one that always has to forgive?  “My husband, my wife, those people at church are so irritating and childish.  If they would just grow up and act like Jesus…!”  Can’t you just see Jesus standing behind you with His arms crossed, tapping His finger on His bicep?

Are you being made holy, growing in your experience and expressions of forgiveness?  And, what are the outcomes of doing so, as well as the consequences of failing to do so?

Read through the rest of chapter 10 as you prepare to respond and comment.